Why is Legislation Important to ME, the Guardmember?

Legislation is the common term, used in the process the state legislature and the federal Congress uses to make public law. To be more specific, it lays out the procedures needed to turn an idea into a bill that becomes a public law and code of the land.

Ideas come from the people, from situations, or events that affect them, and other people of the state or country. These ideas are first transformed into a resolution format that explains the facts of the situation or problem. The people then suggest solutions to the problem in the resolution.

Resolutions are either sent, or presented to the person’s representative at the state or national level. This can be done individually, or through a lobbyist, or group such as our WNGEA association.

The representative evaluates the resolution received at the governmental organization. The idea is then studied and discussed between other representatives. If the idea looks like it will solve a problem for the public in general, and it can either save money, or the current budget can afford it, the resolution is reworded into a Bill. If the current budget cannot afford it, it may be delayed until a future budget includes it.

The author of the bill will then enlist other legislative leaders to join in as co-authors to support the bill. This is where the politics of the organization comes in. Legislatures use leverage to get their bills accepted, and there is a give and take process in doing this.

Bills are then introduced on the floor of the legislative organization and debated. The bill is then referred to a specialty committee where it will be discussed among the specific expertise in the committee, and more research is done. In the committee, the bill may be refined to include details that need to be included. The committee will also hold hearings on the bill to get public, or expert testimony.

Once revised, the bill is re-introduced on the floor of the legislative organization. At this point it can be refused back to committee, or another committee. If both houses of the legislative organization pass the bill, the bill is accepted as final.

The final bill is then sent to the office of the President or Governor. If the bill is signed, it becomes law.

Public laws affect society as a whole, and private laws effect a particular person, family, business, or group. Most bills enacted are public laws. Public laws are published by date of enactment in the Statutes at Large.

Every year, public laws are incorporated into the United States Code, or state statutes, which is a compilation of all general and permanent laws currently in effect. The codes and statutes are arranged by subject matter, and it shows the present status of laws that have been amended on one or more occasions.

Regulations are rules enacted pursuant to the rule making authority of federal and state governmental agencies granted them by the legislature or Congress. Proposed rules are first published in the Federal Register, or through state public notices. Public comments and hearings on the proposed regulations are then considered. Once a regulation formally takes effect, it is known as a final rule and is published.

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